Chapter 133: How Could I Possibly Deceive You?
“You’re always bullying me…” the girl whispered, her voice a mixture of pleasure and playful complaint, as she nestled in his arms.
Then, she drifted off to sleep.
Shi Hao gently covered her with the blanket, got dressed, and left the pavilion.
After walking for a while, guided by his Primordial Energy, he reached a hipped-roof stone pavilion and saw Xu Xiaoyan meditating.
He watched her silently for a moment.
A faint demonic aura flickered around her.
She had chosen a demonic technique and was now cultivating it.
After a while, she exhaled slowly, opened her eyes, and looked at him, tilting her head slightly.
Shi Hao smiled, “What technique did you choose?”
Xu Xiaoyan jumped up, her hands clasped behind her back, and swayed playfully, “The Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art, combined with the Seven Swords of the Mystic Gates. Perfect for an assassin. Hee hee, I’ve never liked fighting fair and square. And it complements my own Soft Serpent Yin Technique.”
This was the first time Shi Hao had heard the name of her Daoist cultivation technique. He had only known it was an unusually yin and soft technique, more akin to demonic arts than orthodox Daoist practices. Now, hearing the name “Soft Serpent Yin Technique,” he was certain it was an unorthodox method.
Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art… so you’ve chosen the Black Erosion path? I thought you would choose the Moon Lotus Pavilion’s Lunar Divinity path, or perhaps the Prismatic Illusion path.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “The Lunar Divinity techniques are too flashy, and although the Prismatic Illusion techniques are interesting, besides the Nine Yin Demonic Transformations, which are useless without the true inheritance, they’re mostly combat-oriented. I prefer the Black Erosion techniques. They suit me better.”
Shi Hao, although having read the Night Charm Demonic scriptures, wasn’t as familiar with the demonic sects’ techniques as she was. He didn’t understand what she meant by the Lunar Divinity techniques being “too flashy.”
But he recalled that although the three factions all originated from the Evil Lotus Sect, their cultivation paths were different. Dragon Girl and Snake Charmer of the Black Lotus Realm did seem different from Zhu Ping and Huan Tingting of the Moon Lotus Pavilion.
Zhu Ping and Huan Tingting seemed more… refined, their auras more distinct.
Compared to them, Dragon Girl and Snake Charmer seemed more ordinary. If this difference was due to their cultivation techniques, then Yuejiao’s choice of the Lunar Divinity path and Xu Xiaoyan’s choice of the Black Erosion path suited their personalities.
But this meant the three of them were now following three different demonic cultivation paths.
Shi Hao asked, “What do you need for your next demonic advancement ritual?”
Xu Xiaoyan sighed, “The ‘Hand of the Dead.’ The hand of a martial artist of the same rank as me, killed through assassination, without them knowing who killed them, or even that they were killed at all. In other words, I have to assassinate someone as strong as me, without them realizing it, and then cut off their hand.”
She looked up at Shi Hao, her eyes pleading, “Why… why are you making me do this?”
Shi Hao thought, That’s a troublesome requirement.
Although Yuejiao’s “Hundred Blood Moon Spirit Sword” and “Hundred Ghosts Moon Spirit Banner” also required… questionable materials, if she were truly unscrupulous, she could just target refugees.
But Xiaoyan’s “Hand of the Dead” required her to assassinate someone of the same rank, without them even realizing it, and without anyone discovering the truth.
Shi Hao asked softly, “Have you gathered the ingredients for your next Daoist elixir? If not, you can ask Yuejiao to…”
“No!” Xu Xiaoyan interrupted, “I don’t want anything from the Chongxian Sect. Don’t worry, I’ve almost gathered everything. I’ve left them with the Red Hill Gathering organizer. I’m only missing one ingredient, and it’s not difficult to obtain.”
She then said, her voice filled with wonder, “Although I haven’t been actively cultivating, my Soft Serpent Yin Technique and the Black Jade Demonic Meteor Art are circulating on their own, my internal energy steadily increasing. At this rate, I might be able to advance to the next rank in just over a month.”
Shi Hao reminded her, “But your Daoist and demonic energies are still unstable. I’ll need to help you adjust them.”
Xu Xiaoyan looked at him skeptically, wondering if he was lying.
Shi Hao, his face serious, tried to reassure her, “How could I possibly deceive you? You’re the one person I would never lie to.”
Xu Xiaoyan made a gagging sound, “I bet you said the same thing to her.”
Shi Hao chuckled, “Don’t think so badly of me.”
He waved his hand, “Continue your cultivation. I have to go into the city.”
He called for Dragon Girl and Huan Tingting, instructing them to inform Yuejiao of his departure when she woke up and to fulfill any requests from the two girls.
Having witnessed the two naked women at the Young Master’s feet in the Demonic Lotus Palace, both Dragon Girl and Huan Tingting considered them his women.
They naturally obeyed his orders.
Shi Hao left the manor and, using his movement technique, hurried towards Dàxīng City.
Knowing his “Mad Blade Hero” nickname had spread through the martial world, he undid the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique before entering the city.
He made his way through the streets and alleys.
Even in broad daylight, the air was heavy with the scent of blood.
The chaos in Dàxīng City hadn’t subsided but intensified. Martial artists hurried through the streets, their faces grim, the usual bustling atmosphere replaced by a tense and uneasy quiet.
Groups of gang members gathered in alleyways or occupied entire restaurants, glaring at anyone who looked at them, ready for a fight.
The lower their rank, the more aggressive their demeanor. They had to fight and claw their way to the top.
Reaching a secluded alley, he used the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, transforming into “Hao Xinghua.”
He reached the end of the alley, lifted the brass ring on the door, and knocked three times, then five.
The door opened, not the old man from before, but a short, stocky, disheveled middle-aged man.
The man glanced at him, “Brother Hao, come in,” and turned, walking inside.
Shi Hao followed him, about to enter the main hall, when he suddenly stopped and sneered.
With a whoosh of wind, figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding him.
A man in a brocade robe stepped forward, smiling, “You’re Hao Xinghua, the Mad Blade Hero, aren’t you? You’ve walked right into a trap. Surrender now, and we might spare your life.”
Shi Hao stood motionless, sensing the surrounding figures, and sneered, “So it’s the barbarian court’s lapdogs.”
“I am Zheng Ge, the ‘Shining Golden Ruler’ of the Six Gates,” the man in the brocade robe had a broad face, a low forehead, a tall, lean build, sharp eyes, and a powerful aura, suggesting a high level of cultivation, “Hao Xinghua, surrender, and we might even offer you a position in the Six Gates. Otherwise, we’ll avenge Xue Lang, the Flying Scorpion Blade, here and now.”
Shi Hao remained silent, using his Primordial Energy to assess the situation.
This Zheng Ge, the Shining Golden Ruler, likely possessed a sixth-rank cultivation. Even before moving, his aura was oppressive and imposing, suggesting he was a powerful figure even among sixth-rank experts.
And behind Shi Hao, on either side, hidden among the other martial artists, were two figures, one wielding a hook, the other a staff. Although concealed, their auras were stronger than the others.
The other martial artists, over twenty of them, were also eighth and ninth-rank.
More figures were approaching from outside, likely barbarian soldiers.
Shi Hao knew that the longer he waited, the more enemies would arrive. He sneered, “You think you can capture me? Just you… lot?”
As he spoke, his fist shot out, reaching Zheng Ge’s face with lightning speed.
Zheng Ge, enraged, shouted, “You dare!” He flicked his sleeve, and an iron ruler, whistling through the air, met Shi Hao’s fist.
And then, something strange happened. Shi Hao’s fist transformed into a palm, slashing downwards and sideways. Zheng Ge felt a sudden vortex beneath his ruler, pulling it down.
Surprised, he exerted more force, trying to counter the pull. The vortex vanished, and Shi Hao’s palm transformed into a finger, lightly tapping the underside of the ruler.
The ruler flipped upwards, its trajectory diverted. Then, Shi Hao’s left fist, carrying a surge of energy, struck Zheng Ge’s chest.
Zheng Ge, a sixth-rank expert, the strongest among them, had underestimated Shi Hao, believing the “Mad Blade Hero” to be only seventh-rank, based on their intel. He hadn’t expected him to attack him directly, especially while surrounded.
And Shi Hao’s bizarre palm technique, the external projection of energy usually only achievable by mid-rank martial artists and above, and not just ordinary energy, but a swirling vortex of force, had caught him off guard, creating an opening.
However, Zheng Ge, a seasoned fighter, reacted quickly, raising his left hand to block the incoming fist.
A loud crash echoed as their fists collided, the force of the impact sending tremors through the air. Although Zheng Ge was an expert in external martial arts, his strength immense, he was still forced to stagger backwards.
At the same time, Shi Hao was also thrown back by the force of the blow.
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